The Monday after Pentecost is also a holiday in Switzerland. Chris had the day off from work, and the kids were home from school. So we spent the day at Tierpark Goldau. It was kind of drizzly, but only off and on. Perfect weather for being outdoors, actually.
We bought two boxes of food for the ducks and fish, and had a great time passing it out.
Noah and Alexandra don’t really like to feed the deer, but they were very happy to toss food pellets to these guys. I think the vertical differentials are the key factor. 🙂
Nick never saw an informational sign he didn’t want to read. The human encyclopedia must be fed!
Alexandra was having fun, I promise. But she didn’t want to stop feeding the ducks to take a photo. The fun thing about tossing the food pellets into the water for the ducks, is that occasionally a fish will come up to the surface to eat it instead. The way their mouths slowly come up out of the deep darkness and close around the food is cool, in a spine-tingling creepy kind of way. 🙂
Sometimes the kids would get mad at the fish for eating the ducks food. “Go away, fish! That’s not for you!” Also, they would always throw some out for the shy ones swimming on the outer edges of the group. Alexandra has a really good arm, and would occasionally chuck it so far, that ONLY fish were around to eat it. heehee. A few pellets may have also landed on the ducks’ back, or bounced off their heads, but there was no physical proof, as it ended up being eaten. (The pellet, not the duck.)
When the duck food was gone, we made our way over to the deer feeding area. The awesome cool playground in between was partly under construction, and partly closed due to the rainy weather. Boo! My kids love that place and were very disappointed.
Fortunately, the thrill/terror of feeding actual live deer straight from your hand, took their minds off of it. You can get very close to them.
They can also get very close to you. Like sniff your pockets close. Nibble at your clothes close. Surround you and trap you up against the rock wall until you give them all your pellets close. These are actual scenarios my children have been subjected to. Which is why no one really loves this zoo but Sophie, and even she has handed me her box of food in defeat before. Also, your hands get covered in deer spit.
We don’t buy annual passes anymore.
There were no tears this trip, however. And despite the occasional sprinkling, I ended up carting around everyone’s jackets and umbrellas for most of the time. There was even a roaring fire at the grill pit, just in time for lunch. All in all, when it was time to go home, everyone was pleased with the outing.
As long as we fudge the definition of “everyone” a bit.